Designed by Portuguese architect Alvaro Leite Siza Vieira, Casa Tolo is a 180 sq. meters holiday home located on a long and narrow, steep hill in northern Portugal. The site’s extreme slope defines the main characteristic of this unique concrete structure.
The main entrance and car park are located on the top of the hill, whereas the house slowly reveals itself as you descend down the outdoor staircase.
Along the way, various rooms and outdoor patio spaces are interconnected among different levels of the structure, all linked through a network of exterior and interior stairs.
I think it’s interesting to think about this house as a path, as it hugs the mountainside surrounded by land and trees, leading down from the upper level street to the swimming pool at the bottom.
Imagine parking your car at the top and going down for a dip in the outdoor swimming pool (located at the bottom level), only to find out you dropped your cellphone on your way down… No matter how you feel about this house, it will definitely get you into shape.
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